Petr Rikunov Secures Third Stage Victory in HCM City Television Cycling Tournament

Petr Rikunov Secures Third Stage Victory in HCM City Television Cycling Tournament

Russian cyclist Petr Rikunov continued his dominating performance in the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament by securing his third stage victory on April 5. Rikunov, riding for Lộc Trời Group, displayed a strong sprint to leave Vietnamese athletes Lê Nguyệt Minh and Trần Tuấn Kiệt behind and maintain the yellow jersey as the overall leader.

The third stage, held in Hòa Bình City of Hòa Bình Province, proved to be a challenging one for the cyclists, with nearly two-thirds of the athletes forced out of the tournament after the tough second stage. Despite the short distance and flat terrain of the stage, riders pushed themselves to the limit, creating a fast-paced and competitive race.

Hà Thanh Tâm and Nguyễn Phạm Quốc Khang claimed the first and second sprints of the stage, respectively, before Rikunov, Minh, Kiệt, and Martin Laas formed a top four group in the final kilometers. In the end, it was Rikunov’s powerful pedalling that allowed him to cross the finish line first and maintain the blue jersey for the point leader.

While Rikunov’s individual success continued, his team, Lộc Trời Group, currently sits in third place in the team rankings behind HCM City Vinama and Le Fruit Đồng Nai. Nguyễn Hoàng Sang of Le Fruit Đồng Nai was named the best Vietnamese rider, while Phạm Lê Xuân Lộc from Military Zone 7 was recognized as the best young athlete.

The upcoming fourth stage, from Hòa Bình to Hà Nội, promises to be another exciting and challenging leg of the tournament as Rikunov looks to extend his winning streak and solidify his position at the top of the leaderboard.